WR Donavan Hale

Seeing Hale listed over Nick Westbrook, last year’s breakout receiver, on the season’s first depth chart makes it even more amusing to remember a time when IU considered developing him at quarterback.

Hale has been floating around at wideout for more than a year now, and in fairness, he was hardly anonymous as a sophomore (13 catches, 210 yards, one touchdown). But now, ahead of his junior season, Hale’s name just keeps coming up. Teammates mention his great plays in practice. Coaches talk about improved consistency.

Probably not worth reading too much into him being listed ahead of Westbrook. There will be plenty of snaps to go around at receiver this fall. But if Hale can come anywhere near matching the production Indiana will expect from Westbrook and Simmie Cobbs, then the Hoosiers have perhaps the best receiver group in the Big Ten.

RB Cole Gest

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Cole Gest will be among the Hoosiers running backs looking to replace Devine Redding.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

A small, explosive back from Ohio powerhouse St. Edward, Gest’s high school numbers (50 career touchdowns, nearly 4,000 yards) are off the charts. He actually unseated a senior back — current Michigan State linebacker Andrew Dowell — when he was a junior, and looked like he might figure into the rotation for Indiana last season, until an injury cut his campaign short. Gest could also help in the return game.

CB A’Shon Riggins

A'Shon Riggins (right) gives IU a pair of cornerbacks that can compete with anyone in the conference.(Photo: Jay LaPrete, AP)

After a strong freshman season, it may be a stretch to qualify Riggins as a “breakout” performer.

But in a defensive backfield where the attention is likely to be trained elsewhere in the preseason, don’t forget the sophomore from Ohio, who started eight of the 12 games he played in last year. Riggins had 37 tackles, nine pass break-ups and an interception in his freshman season, really impressive for a player in his first fall in college. His absence through injury in the bowl game was clearly felt, and a strong 2017 would solidify his place in one of the Big Ten’s best secondaries.